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The Cleveland Browns sent shockwaves through the National Football League this week when they traded reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who is fresh off becoming the league’s single-season rushing record holder.
Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for a big package that makes an already stacked Rams squad even better as the Browns now have to adjust to life without Garrett for the first time since 2016.
Garrett requested a trade from the Browns last year, but the Browns ended up signing him to a four-year extension worth $160 million, apparently keeping him in Cleveland through his 14th NFL season in 2030.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns celebrates during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 10, 2023. The Browns won 31-27. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
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The return of 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder was “too big” to pass up, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry said.
“Myles Garrett is a foundational player, Hall of Fame worthy, a homegrown talent who has been here for a decade, and our intent was to have him be a one-helmet player for his career. That was the truth,” Berry told reporters Tuesday.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Huntington Bank Field. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
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“But there are moments when opportunities come up that are, frankly, unexpected, and they force you to stop and reevaluate and look at it and say, ‘Is this something that could really be beneficial to the team?’ And that was the case in this case. The opportunity was too big.” Last season marked Garrett’s second in which he was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year after recording 23 games. Garrett has recorded double-digit sacks in each of his last eight seasons and at least 14.0 in five straight.
Meanwhile, the pressure is on for the Rams, who extended Matthew Stafford for another season weeks after taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the draft.
Cleveland just had two first-round picks in April’s NFL Draft, taking tackle Spencer Fano and wide receiver KC Concepcion – they now have two for next year as well.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during warmups before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Oct. 26, 2025. (Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
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Verse has made the Pro Bowl twice in as many NFL seasons while recording 12.0 sacks and 22 tackles for loss as an outside linebacker.
